Drake professor helping return civility to classroom
Posted: Saturday, August 12, 2006
DES MOINES (AP) -- They answer their cell phones during lectures, text message their friends and dress as if they're going to a nightclub, not a classroom.
Are college students really that bad?
Yes, says Delaney Kirk, a professor of management at Drake University.
But, she adds, it's not their fault.
"It's the same behavior we're seeing in the rest of society," Kirk says. "There's a general lack of social skills. That's the role model they have, so they don't understand."
Kirk has become something of an expert on managing student behavior. Recently she hosted a three-day workshop at Drake for faculty from around the country, and she's held similar seminars at the University of Washington in Seattle and Columbia University in New York City.
Professors have always dealt with distracted and rude students, but Kirk says the problem has grown worse with the popularity of techno-gadgets that students bring into the classroom. Students in previous generations weren't able to fiddle with their cell phones, Blackberries and laptop computers.
"Technology leads to distraction," she said. "Students think they can e-mail, text message, check the Web and listen to you and they can't."
Heather Sklenicka, a professor at Rochester Community and Technical College, in Rochester, Minn., said students are frequently trying to meet demands placed on them by school, jobs and family.
"They are able to access anything anytime and by having that access, their spouse, child, boyfriend, girlfriend or parent expects them to be accessible all the time," Sklenicka said.
Brian Hammes, a chemistry professor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, said students often try to keep up in the classroom -- and check on other matters by cell phone or Blackberry.
"They are trying to multitask and they are doing it poorly for the most part," he said.
Hammes has also noticed that students are more vocal than in the past.
"Things you wouldn't say 20 years ago they say now," he said. "A student approached me and told me not to call on them anymore."
Nancy Hauserman, a professor of management and organization at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, said leading by example can be part of the solution.
"You can't go in there with a cell phone ... if we dress the way we want them to look and treat them with respect, most of them will respond," Hauserman said.
Kirk, the Drake professor, first began thinking about students' manners six years ago.
"I had this one class where students were sleeping, students were talking to each other and cheating -- it took me by surprise," she said. "First, I whined to my colleagues, but then I said, 'You're teaching management, you need to manage this."'
She set out to establish ground rules for students in her class and to begin helping other faculty gain control of their classrooms.
Kirk, who has a Web site dedicated to classroom management, said by creating a clear syllabus and voicing expectations, a professor can get students to "buy into" a class.
"I think they appreciate the boundaries. They will push the envelop, but they appreciate the boundaries," Kirk said.
Melissa Mamayek, 21, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the problem is more evident in larger classes or lecture halls.
"I've witnessed several students with laptops playing Tetris, or text messaging fervently," said Mamayek, who will graduate this summer with a degree in political science.
She said her professors have confronted students about leaving early or coming in late -- some have even answered a student's cell phone.
Mamayek said the problem has worsened since she started college.
"There's less etiquette being talked about or taught and people don't know what's professional anymore or even have any regard for what's professional," she said.
Kirk said her goal goes beyond the classroom.
"I'm not being mean or arbitrary about this, but it's better to learn it here than to show up for work late the first week and get fired. These are good students, there is just a lack of what's appropriate and what's professional. It's about developing some good habits."
Are college students really that bad?
Yes, says Delaney Kirk, a professor of management at Drake University.
But, she adds, it's not their fault.
"It's the same behavior we're seeing in the rest of society," Kirk says. "There's a general lack of social skills. That's the role model they have, so they don't understand."
Kirk has become something of an expert on managing student behavior. Recently she hosted a three-day workshop at Drake for faculty from around the country, and she's held similar seminars at the University of Washington in Seattle and Columbia University in New York City.
Professors have always dealt with distracted and rude students, but Kirk says the problem has grown worse with the popularity of techno-gadgets that students bring into the classroom. Students in previous generations weren't able to fiddle with their cell phones, Blackberries and laptop computers.
"Technology leads to distraction," she said. "Students think they can e-mail, text message, check the Web and listen to you and they can't."
Heather Sklenicka, a professor at Rochester Community and Technical College, in Rochester, Minn., said students are frequently trying to meet demands placed on them by school, jobs and family.
"They are able to access anything anytime and by having that access, their spouse, child, boyfriend, girlfriend or parent expects them to be accessible all the time," Sklenicka said.
Brian Hammes, a chemistry professor at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, said students often try to keep up in the classroom -- and check on other matters by cell phone or Blackberry.
"They are trying to multitask and they are doing it poorly for the most part," he said.
Hammes has also noticed that students are more vocal than in the past.
"Things you wouldn't say 20 years ago they say now," he said. "A student approached me and told me not to call on them anymore."
Nancy Hauserman, a professor of management and organization at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business, said leading by example can be part of the solution.
"You can't go in there with a cell phone ... if we dress the way we want them to look and treat them with respect, most of them will respond," Hauserman said.
Kirk, the Drake professor, first began thinking about students' manners six years ago.
"I had this one class where students were sleeping, students were talking to each other and cheating -- it took me by surprise," she said. "First, I whined to my colleagues, but then I said, 'You're teaching management, you need to manage this."'
She set out to establish ground rules for students in her class and to begin helping other faculty gain control of their classrooms.
Kirk, who has a Web site dedicated to classroom management, said by creating a clear syllabus and voicing expectations, a professor can get students to "buy into" a class.
"I think they appreciate the boundaries. They will push the envelop, but they appreciate the boundaries," Kirk said.
Melissa Mamayek, 21, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the problem is more evident in larger classes or lecture halls.
"I've witnessed several students with laptops playing Tetris, or text messaging fervently," said Mamayek, who will graduate this summer with a degree in political science.
She said her professors have confronted students about leaving early or coming in late -- some have even answered a student's cell phone.
Mamayek said the problem has worsened since she started college.
"There's less etiquette being talked about or taught and people don't know what's professional anymore or even have any regard for what's professional," she said.
Kirk said her goal goes beyond the classroom.
"I'm not being mean or arbitrary about this, but it's better to learn it here than to show up for work late the first week and get fired. These are good students, there is just a lack of what's appropriate and what's professional. It's about developing some good habits."
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